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October 2011

Dear Irish Terrier Friends,

I cannot thank you enough for the many, many messages of kindness and sympathy about Beegie. I was both touched and most grateful. It was so unexpected as I know only too well that one may often be sad for others, but to do something about it is quite another thing. I now have a treasured collection of your kind wishes and memories of Beegie running the sausage races for years, her fancy dress costumes (the Sultan of Zanzibar was a favourite it seems), playing dollies and hide and seek with the children, wearing her red, white and blue hat for the street parties and posing for her favourite photographer. What a character and she did give us some wonderful laughs.

My grief for her has been quite alarming and thank you always for your kindness.

All is well at last and Zuli and I are busy both enjoying and endeavouring to manage, without noticeable success, the high spirits of Liberty Belle. I think that Zuli has recovered her health and even put on a little weight. She accepts with good grace Libby’s ardent and affectionate attentions. She’s an old sly boots I’m afraid and loves to get Libby into trouble. She pretends she’s being duffed up or can’t climb onto her chair because L. is too close for comfort…or can’t go through the door in case she’s barged…or can’t get into her bed because it’s occupied by some awful chew toy which is not to be tolerated. She sets up loud shrieks and barks which has me dashing to the rescue. For the most part the impropriety is so minor that it’s hard to sort out what it is she feels is not entirely to her liking.

She has of course always been very sweet with the family pups and is very protective of Libby. I was amazed this morning when a large Labrador puppy friend dashed up as we were getting into the car. He startled Libby who gave a loud yelp. Zuli leapt back out of the car and stood growling and bristling on her tip toes keeping the dog well away. It seemed very courageous for a frail old lady of well over one hundred in human years. She soon realised however that he was a ‘golden boy’ and became fluttery and flirtatious at once. It was quite a performance to coax her back into the car leaving the golden boy behind.

Liberty Belle is flourishing. She’s a fine strong pup and if a tad too tall, is elegant and slim with the face of an angel…misleading of course. Her right eye is slightly paler than the left. No-one has ever seen this before but I find it bewitching. We call it her ‘touch of amber.’ I don’t need to say how funny, loving, intelligent, beautiful and wayward she is. We all know that…she’s an Irish Terrier.

My real confession is that the older I get, the harder it is to discipline myself let along my puppy. She doesn’t quite get away with murder, but almost. She still sleeps on my bed, partly because I find it hard to see anyone else in Beegie’s old bed, but I fear that’s just an excuse. She does mercilessly thump the old toys and I have had to seek out my curved needle which has sewn on many a teddy’s ear. She provides a cast iron excuse for negligence and default on beauty on my part ‘I’m so sorry I can’t leave the puppy’ or ‘I must get back to the puppy.’ She’s the perfect get out clause.

And we do all adore her…oh yes…she’s irresistible. She’s particularly fond of my son James who makes regular pilgrimages across London to have her fall at his feet.

It is extraordinary how quickly she has established her mark, uniquely her own. She treats us, her family, her friends, her life and each day with that heaven sent enthusiasm which enchants us all.

Now about Celeste. You have been asking about ‘the duck’ well, she has flown the nest. About three weeks ago she became very restless, flapping her wings and flying up onto the conservatory roof. She was missing for a whole day twice in one week and then one morning she flew off and although spotted in the next street, would not be caught. We were away for the weekend and I’m not sure whether she tried to come home but I have not seen her since. I do hope and believe that she has found her own kind. Friends have seen a small dark mallard with a group of those pretty Mandarin ducks on a pond in Hampstead. We went hunting for her last Sunday but failed to see any sign of her.

We do miss her, Libby still rushes about when I say ‘go and find Celeste.’ But she is a wild duck and it would never have been right to keep her in a pen, and living indoors, which she loved, was not an option considering the attrition she caused to my poor house.

Having missed out on a summer holiday we’ve been up and down to Lymington for several weekends enjoying the walks along the sea wall and the salt marshes. Libby loves the freedom of running like the wind and I imagine all the old dogs joining in the chase. Zuli is at her best down there and has already taught Libby, not that she needed much coaxing, to chase the rabbits.

Tessie’s family have moved out of London and now live in the lovely Woodford valley near Salisbury. They are enjoying the space of woods and fields…so much more rewarding than a London park. We keep driving down to visit them and Tessie is touchingly thrilled to see Zuli and I’m certainly pleased to see her.

We spent a day with the Manners and it was fun to watch Zu, Nonny, Tessie and Libby running across the fields. Libby can hardly believe her luck to be dashing round with the big girls. I love to see their coats in the varied shades of gold amongst the autumn colours…always a perfect match.

We ‘did’ the Fun Day at Roade. At least Libby and I were participants but Zu as usual took one look and stayed in the car. Beegie always loved it so much and the cups and rosettes were presented in her memory. I was anxious not to succumb to tears but in fact it was a lovely day with perfect weather to celebrate one hundred years of the Irish Terrier Association. We had a splendid cake, champagne and a hog roast…quite apart from all the jolly races.

Libby whirled around in the puppy parade with huge enjoyment, but failed to make any sense of the sausage race. She held a sausage very carefully in her mouth and then spat it out. I had to break it into small pieces before she’d swallow it – what a wimp! But unlike Beeg she’s not a foodie.

I am so pleased to say that we’re all back on track and thank you again for your kind commiserations. All I can say is ‘thank god for the dogs’ to whom I send my love.

With many greetings, do keep in touch,

Lucy

P.S. We’re compiling the calendar next week so there’s still time to send us your pics